Decision time for Jose at NUFC?

Jose Enrique and his advisers are said to be involved in talks regarding the future of the player this week, with the early gossip suggesting that Jose could be set to agree a new deal at the club.

Now these talks aren't new news as they were revealed last week when Alan Pardew claimed that Jose was said to the recipient of a "fantastic offer" to pledge his future to NUFC, but understandably fans will want to see a positive outcome at the earliest opportunity to allay any fears that we could be set to lose one of our best players.

Of course being realistic none of us are going to know the state of play until the club confirm either way what has happened. No matter how much "early gossip" there is flying about none of it can really be taken seriously unless someone is sitting in the meeting room with them.

My own personal view is that Jose will be away. I think the club know this which is why I think we've been sniffing around Cheikh M'Bengue as a replacement should talks not be able to persuade Jose to stay. Obviously we'd all love it if Jose was to reaffirm his commitment to the black and white cause but I'm prepared for the worst just in case.

One would hope that Jose would take a look at the impending transfer action that is said to be taking place at St James' Park at the moment and think twice about throwing the towel in at Newcaste, if he ever was going to throw the towel in at Newcastle. Granted nothing is confirmed in terms of signings, nothing 100% official, but there does seem to be an awful lot of hints suggesting that there is a head of steam building and that the club is looking to improve.

With the news that Joey Barton is not going to be offered a new contract imminently it would be another bitter blow if we were to lose another one of our better performers. However, with interest in the player seemingly cooling off perhaps there is some small chance of Jose signing on again?

I guess the best way to play it is to wait and see. It doesn't help the nerves of course, but it's the only way we are going to get a definitive answer. Even those "in the know" people seem to be contradictory on what they claim is going to happen, and with them being so in the know but without actually knowing the same thing it makes me wonder how we are supposed to know? ;)

Of course if what I deem as the unexpected is to happen and Jose does agree to a stay on Tyneside it would probably be one of the best bits of business that we will conduct this close season, regardless of who we bring in. Keeping hold of your betters players is a good thing, and whilst that doesn't look like it will happen in the case of Joey Barton, it may well happen in the case of Jose Enrique.

As ever, time will tell. Fingers crossed though!